EU’s trade links with US provide 12 million jobs

TWELVE million jobs depend on the vital trade links between the US and the European Union, the next EU Ambassador to Washington John Bruton revealed yesterday.

Responding to claims that he faced an impossible task because the majority of Americans did not know of his new post or that the European Union existed, Mr Bruton said: "This is not an impossible task because the EU's dealings with the US will be mainly economic this is one of the most important trade relationships in the world."

The American market is vital to Europe there is more EU investment in State of Texas than the entire US investment in Japan, Mr Bruton said.